More than 1,000 residents in Monroe and Ouachita Parish who rely on Section 8 housing subsidies could be at risk if a federal proposal to trim the program becomes law, according to William Smart, director of the Monroe Housing Authority (MHA).
Smart said representatives from the MHA are in Washington this week to learn how the proposed changes will impact local renters. Section 8 provides vouchers that cover most of the rent for eligible low-income families, with the government often paying hundreds of dollars per household. In many cases, tenants pay as little as $1 a month, while their neighbors without vouchers must pay the full market rent.
“This isn’t just about numbers,” Smart said. “This is about families and seniors who would have no roof over their heads without this program.”
The proposal, p…
